Q:
What size fan should I use?A: This
is more related to the number of
air exchanges, in a given period, you desire for proper plant
transpiration. It is not a question of what is best for odor
elimination. It is best to use the lowest cfm fan available to
accomplish this exchange. Watch
this video. BIG BLUE ozonators
come in varying diameters from 4 to
12 inches. The larger diameters are not only designed to fit your
existing ventilation ducting but also ever higher fan volumes. In other
words the 12 inch BIG BLUE will handle more cfm than the 4 inch.

Q: Do I need a
mixing chamber?A:
The BIG BLUE is designed as an air
purification chamber. As the odor bearing air is exhausted from your
grow space it is directed through the ducting to the BIG BLUE. There
the odorous air is exposed to high intensity ultraviolet light that
kills on contact. Its polished stainless steel surfaces help to
increase this intensity so that “baffling systems”
and long
lengths of ducting are not required.

Q: Won’t a carbon filter eliminate odors?A:
Yes and No. What we at Big Blue Air
Products are striving to achieve is the 100% solution to eliminating
grow room odors. Garden odor is primarily bacteria based. This bacteria
is so small that it requires high powered microscopes to view. Bacteria
so small that filters, alone, cannot remove all of it from the air.

Q: What is the
difference between corona discharge
(CD) and ultraviolet light (UV) ozone?A:
CD ozonators use an exposed electrical
arc to generate ozone. A byproduct of Corona Discharge ozonation is
nitric acid. When mixed with moisture from the humidity in the grow
space this corrosive “syrup” contaminates the
surfaces that
produce the ozone. This requires frequent cleaning of the arcing
surfaces or the contamination will reduce the ozone output of the
generator. UV lamps use concentrated ultraviolet light waves to produce
ozone. These bulbs do not produce harmful residues. Humidity does not
affect their function. There is no need for cleaning of the UV lamps
during the plants growth cycle.

Corona
Discharge produces more ozone, but not in high humidity environments.
You may have experienced static electricity. This happens in extremely
dry conditions. However, when it's damp outside, not so much. For
hydroponics this gives the edge to the Big Blue and its UV lamps.

Humidity does
not affect their function.

Q: Will the
high humidity levels, of my garden,
affect the ozone output? A:
Ultraviolet bulbs could be immersed in
water (do not try this at home) and continue to produce ozone.
Ultraviolet lamps are used extensively to purify the water in pools,
spas, ponds and bottled drinking water. Corona Discharge, on the other
hand, uses an exposed electrical arc to produce ozone. Would you put
your toaster in the bathtub and expect it to continue to brown your
bread?

Q: What is the
difference between ozone and
ionization?A:
The four most effective methods of
purifying the air we breath are: ultraviolet light, active oxygen,
purifying hydroxyls, and negative ions. Ultraviolet light produces all
of these odor fighters. Ionizers, by themselves, create negative ions
which attach themselves to solid particles, such as dust, pollen, soot,
smoke, etc.. This particulate then drops from suspension to form a
harmless dust. Ionizers alone will not eliminate 100% of the odor
causing contaminates.

Q: Will your "Big Blue" discolor the paint on my walls?
A: No. But, Ionizers are
known to create the "black wall"
effect. This is a condition where high levels of negative ions,
although considered healthy for you, can blacken walls and furnishings
by "magnetically" attaching to themselves.

Q: Do I need a
pre-filter?A:
A filter is not required. But we
suggest a simple filter to extend the life of your fan. Dust, pet hair
and other airborne particles mix with the growing humidity and become a
wet mess. This mixture can foul the fan blades and mechanisms. Using
some old panty hose material stretched over the inlet to the exhaust
fan and secured with duct tape will help minimize this contamination.
This "panty hose" filter is easily replaced when you do your regular
garden maintenance.

Q: Will high
heat levels effect the ozone output?A:
Yes. Blue Air Products has compensated
for the heat that is produced by grow room lights. We use larger and
multiple lamps to produce enough ozone to adjust for this heat. You may
install the Big Blue as close to the odor source as possible without
concern for the increased temperature levels from the Grow lights.

Q: Can I mount
the BIG BLUE in the exhaust ducting
attached to the light hood?A:
Yes, see the answer to the previous
question.

Q: Will ozone
remove the fragrance from my plants?A:
No, when used properly. The inline
ozonators are designed to be installed in the exhaust ducting. This
ozonated air is to be directed outside of any grow areas and living
spaces. View this video.

Q: What about
the odors in my home or grow space?
A: Small or timed ozonators
help repel spider mites, airborne
pathogens, molds and mildews. Though ozone only has a half life of
about 30 minutes (before it reverts back to oxygen) these ozonators
must be on a timed system. When the smell of ozone becomes
objectionable or you esperience a headache, it is typically at too high
a level. Short bursts of ozone, rather than long continuous ones is
superior when incorporated within your garden setting. For low odor
levels, 1to3 minutes on and 10 minutes off will not produce dangerous
levels of 03. As the odor increases, then longer on and off times of up
to 3to5 minutes in every 10 minutes will clean the air in a 10 X 10
foot room without harming your plants.

Q: Should I be
in the room when the ozonator is
running?
A: It is always best to err
on the side of caution. If you
follow the BIG BLUE instructions, (though you find the odor of ozone
objectionable) ozone will not be at dangerous levels in the room. But
with the aid of an additional timer you may want to turn off the
ozonator 30 minutes before you enter the grow space. Ozone only lasts
about 30 minutes before it reverts back to oxygen (O2). This should
allow sufficient time for the ozone to dissipate.

Quote
from the American National Standards
Institute-ANSI Standards for Ozone.Page
31 Appendix D.

"Although
the
decomposition (half life) precludes the possibility of large amounts of
ozone being present, ozone, like all chemicals capable of oxidation, is
a hazardous substance, and ozone-generating equipment can produce
dangerous levels of the gas. The United States Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) has standards for the exposure to ozone.
Research indicates that there are no irreversible effects caused by
accidental exposure to low non-lethal concentrations of ozone. As a
general principle, however, breathing even low levels of ozone should
be avoided at all times. Further information can be obtained from OSHA
or the International Ozone Association, Pan American Group, 31
Strawberry Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902".

Q: How can I tell when the ozone levels are too high?
A: A very small percentage
of people could be considered ozone
sensitive. These people will find the smell of ozone, at any level, to
be too much. The EPA and the FDA have stated that levels below .05 ppm,
are safe for humans. Again, some people will find any level of ozone
approaching this level to be overpowering. Fortunately, it takes long
term exposure at levels approaching .1ppm to cause any harm. Even at
dangerously high ozone levels, you could easily enter the room and turn
off the ozonator without physical damage.

Q: Do I need to clean the BIG BLUE?
A: Unlike corona discharge
systems, it is not necessary to
clean the unit every 3 to 4 weeks. But, you may want to wipe the UV
bulb and stainless surfaces clean after every grow cycle. This will
keep the BIG BLUE functioning at optimal levels. Be especially careful
around the tiny starter lamps as these are very fragile.

Q: I am looking for a generator than can handle approximately 3000 cfm.
Do you custom make units that would handle this volume and could still
be connected to eight inch ducting? I was told to simply put a couple
of your 12 inchers in a row, but this might not work for me.A:The volume of air (3000
cfm) that you are
pushing through 8 inch ducting is not the issue. But, ozone contact
time is (watch this video
for
more info).On the one hand the
faster the air moves the more ozone
is created as the smashing of the oxygen molecules (02), in this
environment, creates more 03 ozone molecules. But the downside is that
the odors exposure time, to the ozone, is diminished. If you have the
space, I would recommend using a 12 inch Big Blue, this would allow for
shorter ducting runs, if needed. Or exhaust into the attic. Using
reducers/enlargers to fit it into your 8 inch ducting. Also, you way
wish to have a sheet metal shop construct a bafflebox/mixing chamber (click here for a
video reference)
that would be installed on the downwind/pressure side of the ozonator.
This would aid in a more thorough mixing of the odor/ozone in the
shortest possible distance.

Q: In our city (Houston, TX) we already have high ozone days that
instigate warnings for respiratory health. if I am using ozone in my
indoor garden, will this increase my health risk?
A: As you know, ozone is
the most dangerous component of
smog. This ozone is created when the sun reacts with hydrocarbons (the
major component of smog) in the atmosphere. Ozone can be very harmful
if you are asthmatic or have allergies. You are also probably aware
that ozone is extremely unstable. The measurement of ozone in cities is
taken out of doors. If the same measurements were taken inside your
home (with the HVAC running and the windows open) it would only be
1/10th of the outside measurement. Also many of the machines that we
have in our homes (ie laser printers or copiers) produce harmful levels
of ozone, for some people! Blue Air Products would never recommend, if
you have these conditions, that you use our products while you are in
your enclosed hydroponic garden. When you are using the Big Blue to
sterilize your grow space, between harvest and planting, it should be
run on a timer or be turned off 30 minutes before you re-enter the
enclosed garden. This time allows the unstable ozone molecules to
revert back to harmless oxygen.

Q: I am about to purchase your 8" model. I have read somewhere that the
life span of the bulb is only 14-18 months. If this is true, how much
are the replacements? Please tell me all about the maint. of the bulbs
and anything that might need changing.
A: The total life of the
bulb (depending on the manufacturing
quality and all in use conditions being optimal) is about 18 months of
continuous use (to know more,
click here for the video).
Understand that an Ultra Violet Bulb is
much like an MH bulb. The light may be on, but its growing potential
has long since perished. From about the 12th month the ozone output
begins to decrease until the 18th month and then you probably will
smell very little ozone. It is best to err on the cautious side when
replacing the bulbs. So the recommendations are usually 14 to 18 months
for replacement. You don't want to be without odor control and annoy
your neighbors. With the 8 inch BIG BLUE you have 3 bulbs. Unless
you've undersized for the application, it is unlikely you will have all
bulbs working all the same time. In other words you may only have one
bulb burning for the first quarter of the growth cycle and then add
lamps as the growth and odor increase.
Therefore, you would not have to replace all the bulbs at the same
time. If you are very serious about your garden maintenance you could
date the times for each lamp and buy replacements as needed. The
replacement cost as of 03/12 is $50. per lamp. As for maintenance , at
the end of each grow cycle when you are cleaning your garden containers
and doing maintenance, it might be prudent to clean the inside
reflective surfaces of your BB. The polished surface almost doubles the
effectiveness of the UV lamps.
Also wipe down the bulbs